A leading Saudi businessman has asked King Salman to intervene to ensure that the government makes delayed payments to construction companies. Some construction firms have seen scheduled payments from the government delayed by over six months, Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, President of the Council of Saudi Chambers Business Association, wrote in a letter to King Salman. “If the delay in payments continues, these companies will be at risk of default, or go completely out of business,” said the letter, seen by Reuters. The letter underlined the pressures facing the Saudi construction sector. The Finance Ministry has cut advance payments to firms doing state construction work, the government has awarded fewer contracts, and its payments to companies for work already done have slowed, industry executives say. (Arab News)